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Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, and, on the 19th October, 1905, a motion, proposed in the House of Representatives, "that, in the opinion of this House, the importation of opium for other than medicinal purposes should be pro- hibited," was agreed to unanimously,
2. Section 52 (g) of "The Commonwealth Customs Act, 1901," enacts that the following are prohibited imports, viz., "all goods the importation of which may be prohibited by Proclamation.
3. Consequently, it was not necessary that any special Act should be passed in order to carry out the expressed wish of the Parliament in regard to opium, but legal effect was given thereto by the issue, on the 29th December, 1905, of à Proclamation under the above section of the Customs Act.
4. By this Proclamation (copy of which is attached) the importation into Australia on and after the 1st January, 1906, of opium suitable for smoking was prohibited absolutely.
The importation of opium not suitable for smoking was also prohibited, unless such opium were imported in accordance with certain conditions and restrictions, the chief of which are that it may be introduced only by persons specially licensed and bound to the Commonwealth in substantial securities that none of it shall be disposed of except for bond fide medicinal purposes.
5. Periodical inspections of the books and operations of licensed importers are made, and, if the quantities sold appear to be excessive, explanations are required and inquiries made if necessary, but no restriction is placed on supplies intended for purely medicinal use.
6. Herewith is also copy of general instructions issued to Collectors of Customs in reference to the prohibition.
7. The following particulars will afford an idea as to the extent of the importa- tions of opium into the Commonwealth prior to the date of the prohibition
Year,
Quantity imported.
Value.
lbs.
£
1901 (including opium for medicinal purposes) 1902
56,473
99,962
59,782
79,090
11
35
1903 (smoking opium only)
42,429
59,138
1904
34.889
1905
47,118
+5
50,458 70,959
8. The measure of the sacrifice gladly made by the Commonwealth, with a view to the stamping out of the opium-smoking evil in our midst, will be seen from the fact that the revenue received froin the importation of smoking opium in 1903 was 65,2431., in 1904 64,8321., and in 1905 65,9601.
9. Before prohibition the rate of duty (30s. per lb.) on opium was sufficiently high to furnish inducement to smuggle the drug into the Commonwealth.
It will, however, be easily understood that since the prohibition the price obtained for any opium that might find its way into Australia is considerably higher than formerly, and this has naturally had the effect of inducing still further attemps at smuggling.
10. It is believed that the price now got is in some cases as much as 51. for a half-pound tin, whereas prior to prohibition the price was not more than 35s. for the same quantity.
(b.) Steps taken to insure Compliance with the Law.
11. The Department of Trade and Customs is straining every nerve in the endeavour to check any illegal traffic in opium. Ships arriving in the Commonwealth from any port are regularly boarded upon arrival, but special attention is devoted to the searching of those from eastern ports and Vancouver. Watchmen are employed both night and day in the neighbourhood of the wharves. Chinamen, in particular, leaving vessels are scrutinized, and, if any suspicions are aroused, subjected to a search of their persons.
12. In addition, rewards not exceeding 501. are held out to persons supplying information leading to the conviction of the offenders. Publicity is given to this in
the local Chinese press, on the notice boards of ships, and by conspicuous placards on the wharves.
13. That the vigilance of the officers has not been without success is evidenced by the following particulars :--
Period,
Seizures since Prohibition.
No. of Offenders detected.
Value
Quantity seized.
estimated at 36 per lb.
lbs.
£
Year 1906
1907..
677
2,031
137
2.186
6,558
Half-year ended June 30, 1908
92
655
1,965
280
8,518
10.554
14. From the 1st January, 1906, to the 30th June, 1908, the penalties imposed by the Courts for the illegal importation of opium have amounted to nearly 6,000l., of which 3,2001, was paid. Offenders unable to pay the fines imposed upon them were subjected to a term of imprisonment. In every case the seized opium is destroyed.
15. At present the powers of the Commonwealth Government are not sufficient to insure the suppression of any opium dens existing in Australia. The importation of the drug in a form suitable for smoking is certainly prohibited, and any person actually found introducing smoking opium is severely dealt with. The disability is, however, that the mere possession of the drug by a person in Australia is not an offence against Commonwealth law, unless the Commonwealth can prove that the person in possession was actually concerned in the importation. In many cases this cannot of course be proved, but it is intended to introduce into Parliament at an early date a measure to amend the Customs Act so as to make mere possession of the drug a highly punishable offence.
(c.) State Laws in regard to Opium Smoking. -
16. Efforts have been made to induce the various States of the Commonwealth to pass suppressive legislation, with the following results:-
New South Wales.-A Bill to control the opium traffic in this State has been drafted, and will be submitted to Parliament early (see postscript).
Victoria. The Opium Smoking Prohibition Act, 1905," which came into operation on the 1st May, 1906, made it a penal offence (1) to smoke opium, or (2) to sell, deal, or traffic in opium in any form suitable for smoking, or (3) to prepare or manufacture opium in any form suitable for smoking, or (4) to have in one's possession, order, or disposition opium in any form suitable for smoking.
Queensland.The question of introducing legislation on the matter is to receive the serious consideration of the Government of this State.
South Australia.--Parliament passed an Act in 1905 similar to the Victorian Act. Tasmania.-"The Opium Smoking Prohibition Act, 1906," dating from the 1sth January, 1907, is similar to the Victorian Act.
Western Australia. The Government is prepared to introduce a measure in similar terms to the Acts in force in Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.
(d.) General.
17. It is believed that opium has lately been produced in Australia, but only to a small extent. In order, therefore, to supplement the legislation already in force, the Commonwealth Government proposes in the near future to introduce a Bill into Parliament having as its object the prevention of the local manufacture of opium by the imposition of a prohibitive excise duty.
18. Police reports received recently point to a very gratifying diminution in the consumption of opium in Australia, gratifying because, although confined almost
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